Parks/Open Space/Trails

Press release:

The Environmental Science Center (ESC) would like to invite the public to join us for this free ONCE A YEAR event at the Environmental Science Center at Seahurst Park. An After-Hours Beach Walk will take place Friday, December 14th, 2012 from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM.

An especially low tide combined with the protective darkness of night will give you the opportunity to see marine animals in a new light- your FLASHLIGHT! Naturalists will be taking groups from the Environmental Science Center down to the beach to guide the experience and identify discoveries. Inside the center, you can learn more about marine life at the microscope station or join a game of marine bingo. Warm up with cider and cookies while socializing with fellow Puget Sound enthusiasts.

A few friendly pointers and reminders:
- Dress warmly
- Wear rubber boots
- Bring a flashlight
- Do No Harm
-Touch animals gently with a wet finger
- Watch where you step
- Leave rocks bigger than your fist where they are (don’t flip over)
- Save the Children
- Leave ALL animals and shells where you find them (don’t take them home)
- Pass It On

11/14/2012

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to the Arts of India Festival at Saltwater State Park on Puget Sound between Seattle and Tacoma.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 8 and 9 at Saltwater State Park, 25205 8th Place South in Des Moines. Celebrate the culture of the Indian subcontinent with performance art, exhibits and more. The festival features dances and songs from across India and instrumental performances by musicians trained in classical, semi-classical and contemporary music. Visitors may explore vendor booths with authentic Indian food, apparel, jewelry and art available for purchase. Admission to the event is free. The Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to the event.

The event is organized by Mera Desh Entertainment. The organization strives to spread Indian culture to the general public and showcase East Indian musicians in the Pacific Northwest. For more information about Arts of India and a full list of event performers, visit www.artsofindiafestival.com.

08/31/2012

Press release:

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Washington State Parks Foundation invite the public to attend ShellFest 2012 at Saltwater State Park in Des Moines.

Lunch is free and provided by Taylor Shellfish, with a suggested donation of $5 for individuals and $10 for families that will go to the Washington State Parks Foundation. Admission is free. The Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to the event.

Plants are amazing organisms that feed us, clothe us, heal us, shelter us, and protect us. Learn more about the green wonders that can be found in your very own neighborhood this Saturday.

Join us for a FREE program:

Saturday, July 14th, 3:00pm-5:00pm
Bigfoot Backwoods: The Power of Plants
Environmental Science Center at Seahurst Beach

Herbal scientist, Vicki Winston, and associate will be leading a program on the many uses of plants. There will also be science stations, art stations, and nature hikes to engage curious minds of all ages!

Planned activities including Concerts-in-the-Park and an Overnight Family Campout

Press release:

America has celebrated July as the nation’s official Park and Recreation Month for more than 25 years and in 2009 the U.S. House of Representatives officially mandated July as “Parks and Recreation Month.”

As the obesity epidemic continues to rage, programs like Park and Recreation Month and the First Lady’s “Let’s Move!” campaign are energizing an American population to adopt healthy lifestyle choices.

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), created Park and Recreation Month to specifically promote the many benefits of local parks and recreation and celebrate the value they bring to their community. From programs to promote conservation and environmental sustainability, to educational programs that teach healthy habits to fun recreational activities, there’s something going on in Burien’s parks this July.

And on the “wild side”, there are great concerts in the park and the first ever overnight family campout at Seahurst Park in partnership with REI, all fun ways to get wild about nature and the environment around you.

07/05/2012

Press release:

Celebrate the dedication of the new Puget Sound Park Playground on Friday, June 29th at 1 p.m. The park is located at 135 S.W. 126th St.

Please join City of Burien and King County representatives as we mark the completion of this neighborhood project, made possible through the King County Community Development Block Grant program, with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The $120,000 renovation project replaced the existing play area by adding new KOMPAN play equipment and expanded the site by adding new swings.

In addition, a trail segment was added at the park, which connects the parking lot down to the main park trail, to better enable wheelchair access or parents with strollers to avoid the need to navigate stairs.

The project was constructed by Pacific Northwest Earthworks L.L.C, with R & R Construction providing the play equipment installation.

This project caps a series of recent renovations occurring at this park, also including replacement of the park picnic tables, benches, trash receptacles and basketball hoop.

06/27/2012

The city of Des Moines is holding a community open house Wednesday, May 23, on the Des Moines Marina and Beach Park development plan.

The meeting will be held at the Des Moines Activity Center, 2045 S. 216th St. from 5-7 p.m.

The open house will include preliminary site development concepts for the marina floor.

Staffers are seeking comments on land use, development options and the economic health of the marina and Beach Park.

Earlier this month, Burien Parks & Recreation put up signs like this one at Dottie Harper Park. Signs will be posted at other parks in the coming months. We’ve heard some questions and concerns about the signs, so I’d like to provide a little bit more information…
Contamination has been in the soil for decades--why put signs up now?
In the summer of 2010, with new funding from a settlement with Asarco, we were able to include parks in the Soil Safety Program. Until then, we only had funding to work with schools and childcare play areas.

We spent the next year doing soil sampling for arsenic and lead at park play areas throughout the Soil Safety Program service area. Once we got the results, we began working with park districts to plan cleanup work. The results also helped us figure out where parks should post signs.

Point Defiance Park in Tacoma already has signs, and several other park districts are now getting ready to post their own.
What is the risk from playing in contaminated soils?

02/29/2012

As a long time resident and community activist in Des Moines since 1954, I highly endorse everything Al Isaac said in support of Des Moines Prop 1.

In spite of difficult times, Des Moines is poised for progress. In fact the Des Moines community could lead the way, and set an example of positive progressive thinking and action for all of Southwest King County.

That is needed everywhere, It will take positive progressive thinking to move us forward..

Vote yes for Des Moines Prop 1. That vote is a positive step in the right direction.

Jack Kniskern
Des Moines

11/01/2011

As relatively new residents of Des Moines (2004), my wife, Kathy, and I have become totally committed to the continuous improvement of this great little city.

As a result we are surprised and disappointed by the flurry of unsubstantiated charges against the city leadership and the twisted or speculative statements by some Proposition 1 opponents.

Actions from the Approved Proposition 1 will accelerate emerging economic development efforts on the edge of success.

Though development seemed indeterminate for a while, today, with the Marina leading the way (summer weekends fully booked, record service and fuel sales in July, record broken again in August) positive things are emerging!

On the Pacific Highway (a new hotel, restaurants, jobs and tax revenues), the 89 acre Des Moines Creek Business Park off 216th (more businesses that pay taxes, more jobs), and the Marina District (expansion of limited water capacity) to make way for more building and business activity (more jobs) all build a larger tax base for the future.

It takes a while, but it is clearly beginning to happen! Announcements on specifics are imminent according to those involved.